๐จ ๐ท๐บ๐ฎ๐ท Throwback when Putin was asked why he is not assisting Iran:
โIsrael today is almost a Russian-speaking country, two million people from the Soviet Union and Russia live there. We take that into account.โ
๐จ ๐บ๐ฆ๐ท๐บ Zelenskyy claims Russia has lost over 1.6 million troops, including about 700,000 killed, while Ukraine has about 50,000 killed, 400,000 wounded, and many missing:
"Their losses are more than 1.6 million, including about 700,000 killed. Compared to Ukraine, it's very difficult to say. To be honest, I don't want to be very open about it because Russians will understand what's going on with our army. We have about 50,000 soldiers killed, about 400,000 wounded, and a large number missing."
Source: Fox News
๐จ ๐ท๐บ Putin is the real winner of Trumpโs war in Iran. Surging oil prices + eased Russian sanctions handed Moscow the exact cash lifeline it needed to escape economic collapse. Putin is now actively fueling the conflict, โ Time. 1/3 ๐งต
Russiaโs economy was implodingโFDI near zero, tech brain drain, record deficitsโuntil oil revenues began doubling. Putin is still cannibalizing civilian industry, but the windfall buys him time and leverage, โ Time. 3/3
๐จ ๐ฐ๐ต๐บ๐ฒ North Korea warns that U.S. expansion of its military command in Japan, and closer U.S.-Japan-South Korea cooperation, heightens war risk on the Korean Peninsula.
๐จ ๐ฎ๐ท๐ง๐ฌ๐จ๐พ Iranian FM Araghchi urged Bulgaria and Cyprus to stop allowing their territories to support U.S. military operations, warning such moves could harm bilateral relations.
๐จ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ต๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฑ Trump announced a Board of Peace agreement for Hamas and other armed groups to disarm in Gaza under a phased peace plan, though Israel has not endorsed it.
๐จ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ US State Dept showed a map of Africa with every country mislabeled at the AIDS 2026 conference in Rio. AI-generated slide rushed by staffer caused the blunder, โ Reuters. 1/3 ๐งต
๐จ ๐ต๐ฑ๐ท๐บ Polish Deputy PM Sikorski: "Putin has proven incapable of conquering Donbas over 13 years. So let's not be too panick about him. His intent is worse than some people thought, but his capability, thank God, is less."
Source: The Long Game Podcast
๐จ ๐ท๐บ๐จ๐ณ Garry Kasparov: "Russia is a spearhead of the grander coalition led by China... the Chinese dragon is gradually swallowing Russian bear."
Source: TVP World
๐จ ๐ท๐บ Garry Kasparov: "I don't think anybody can seriously rely on NATO taking part... The moment you start debating article 5, it doesn't work because it doesn't stop an aggression."
Source: TVP World
๐จ ๐ท๐บ๐ช๐บ Garry Kasparov: "I think that there's a very big chance that unless Europe decides... Europe acts decisively. I think the chance that he[Putin] will cross NATO borders, Estonia, Latia, maybe Lithuania, Poland just for a small incursion using drones. I think the chance are growing."
Source: TVP World
๐จ ๐ท๐บ Garry Kasparov: "I think the Empire is dying. And I think during our lifetime weโll see the end of the Russian Empire... I would probably bet... that in the 10 years Russia will not exist in its current borders."
Source: TVP World
๐จ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ท US borrowing costs just hit their highest level since 2007 after the Fed held rates steady. Markets tumbled amid inflation fears tied to the escalating conflict with Iran, โ The Guardian. 1/4 ๐งต
Oil prices surged on the renewed fighting โ Brent crude jumped 7.3% above $88 a barrel. The combination of higher borrowing costs and energy shocks could further pressure the US economy, โ The Guardian. 4/4